Narrating violent victimization by positioning self and others

Abstract

Victimologists observe that telling one’s story can foster healing for<br/>survivors of violence. To understand these processes better, victims’<br/>narratives must be understood as situated acts of telling. This paper takes<br/>one man’s narration of victimization long past — child abuse and rape — as a<br/>case. We examined his interview-derived storytelling with a focus on<br/>narrative positioning, narrative discourse modes, and negations. We found<br/>that Stefan (a pseudonym) used various discursive modes and narrative<br/>positionings to exercise control over the stories and what they mean. His<br/>agency was partly achieved by what he recounted not doing or saying, and<br/>what he refused to address in the interview situation. Thus, his narratives<br/>feature his own defiance and self-empowerment in both the scene and the<br/>aftermath of violence. These findings lead us to conclude that narrative<br/>strategies of storytelling should be taken into account in any practical<br/>interventions that involves testimony about harm.